Women's Suffrage | Reading, Berks County, PA

Women’s

Right to Vote!

Women seeking the right to vote can be traced back to the beginning of our country. However, it wasn't until 1848, at a women’s convention in Seneca Falls, New York, that the suffrage movement got legs. Meeting attendees issued a declaration of women’s rights, which included women’s suffrage. For the next seventy-two years, women across America assembled, marched, petitioned and never gave up on advancing the cause for voting rights. Talk about determination! Finally, on June 4, 1919, the Senate passed the Nineteenth Amendment and suffragists began a state by state ratification campaign. Pennsylvania was the 7th state to ratify the amendment on June 24, 1919. Hooray for PA! It then took over a year to obtain the 36 votes needed for final ratification. The 19th Amendment became law on August 18, 1920.

We are grateful for the resolve of the suffragists and honor them in our celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Women's Right to Vote. Join us!

Anniversary Events Women in the Arts

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August 26

Celebrate the Passage of the 19th Amendment
DoubleTree by Hilton Reading

Celebrating Women

During this celebratory year, organizations and businesses across Pennsylvania’s Americana Region are joining forces to present an array of centennial festivities that highlight the accomplishments of women. With the help of Celebration of Women in the Arts and Berks Suffrage 2020 Centennial, we have compiled monthly listings of events honoring women.

Suffrage Images Courtesy of:
Women’s Suffrage Centennial Resource Toolkit
National Archives
Library of Congress
National Women’s History Museum
Womans Suffrage Memorabilia